BBC Sport has unveiled its coverage plans for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with more that 350 hours of output to air across BBC TV and BBC iPlayer this summer.
The corporation will be the free-to-air destination for all the unmissable moments from this year’s Summer Games, with the main network TV coverage on BBC One and BBC Two complimented by an extra live stream of Olympic action via the Red Button, both of which will be available online via BBC iPlayer.
Unlike previous Games, the BBC is unable to broadcast every Olympic event live, as these rights are now with Eurosport and Discovery, but the corporation will continue to be at the heart of the world’s biggest sporting spectacle and all 33 sports at the Games are set to feature across its TV, radio and online output.
The BBC’s coverage will be presented from a new virtual reality studio in Salford, featuring a stunning backdrop of the Japanese capital, with a handful of commentators and reporters based on the ground in Tokyo.
The Games officially open on BBC One on Friday, 23 July, with the build-up and live coverage of the Opening Ceremony, presented by Clare Balding and Alex Scott, with commentary from Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter, while Team GB’s opening match against Chile in the women’s football will also be shown live on BBC Two from 8.15am on Wednesday, 21 July, hosted by Alex Scott.
Then from Saturday, 24 July, BBC One and BBC Two will be the home of the corporation’s main TV output across all 16 days of competition, starting from midnight and running through to the evening.
Each day throughout the Games, JJ Chalmers will host from midnight to 5am, followed by Dan Walker and Sam Quek co-hosting a special edition of BBC Breakfast from 5am to 9am, with the best of the overnight action as well as plenty of live sport, in addition to the regular national and regional news updates.
Hazel Irvine and Gabby Logan will co-host daily from 9am to 3pm featuring the best of the live action from the evening session in Tokyo, followed by extended highlights of the day’s main action with Jason Mohammad from 3pm to 6pm.
Then from 7.30pm to 9pm, Clare Balding and Alex Scott will bring each day to a close on BBC One with the prime time Today At The Games highlights show, taking a look back at all the biggest and best moments from that day’s events.
Plus, there is more action straight after Today At The Games over on BBC Two from 9pm to 10pm in Olympics Extra, a show dedicated to in-depth highlights from some of the key sports of the day hosted by Jeanette Kwakye and Nihal Arthanayake.
Alongside the presenters will be an expert team of pundits and commentators, including Michael Johnson and British Olympic legends Chris Hoy, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Colin Jackson, Nicola Adams, Mark Foster, Rebecca Adlington, Katherine Grainger, Kate Richardson-Walsh and many more.
Scroll down for a full list of the BBC’s commentary and reporting teams across the main sports it will be covering at the 2020 Games.
The action wraps up with a review of the Games at on Sunday, 8 August, on BBC One ahead of live coverage of the Closing Ceremony, hosted again by Clare Balding and Alex Scott, with commentary from Hazel Irvine and Andrew Cotter.
All coverage on BBC One and BBC Two will also be available to watch live or on-demand on BBC iPlayer.
In addition to the network TV coverage, a second live stream available on BBC iPlayer will ensure fans can catch all the unmissable moments from this year’s Games as they unfold, while UK audiences can still enjoy anything they may have missed live with special highlights programmes available on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Viewers watching live programmes on BBC iPlayer can also make use of the live restart function, allowing them to watch their favourite events from the beginning.
As well as extensive TV and radio coverage, the BBC Sport website and app will provide up-to-the-minute coverage of events as they unfold with live text updates and analysis, video highlights and breaking news in addition to a comprehensive catch-up service via bbc.co.uk/olympics.
Tokyo 2020 is the first Summer Olympic Games where Discovery, owners of Eurosport, have the rights to show every sporting event across its platforms in the UK and across Europe, as part of pan-European deal negotiated in 2015.
Free-to-air rights in the UK were sub-licenced to the BBC, who are only permitted to run two channels featuring Olympic coverage for the 2020 and 2024 Summer Games – its main network TV output on BBC One, plus an additional live stream via the Red Button and BBC iPlayer.
After a delay of a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held on 23 July, with the sporting action beginning two days before with the start of the football and softball competitions.
Follow all the key moments from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on BBC Sport
BBC Tokyo 2020 Olympics Commentary Line-up
Athletics
Studio Guests: Jessica Ennis-Hill, Michael Johnson, Denise Lewis
Commentators: Steve Backley, Andrew Cotter, Steve Cram, Colin Jackson, Paula Radcliffe
Reporter: Jeanette Kwakye
Badminton (selected matches)
Commentators: Nick Lester, Sam Smith, Gail Emms
BMX
Commentators: Ed Leigh, Jon Taylor
Reporter: Tim Warwood
Boxing
Studio Guest: Nicola Adams
Commentators: Ronald McIntosh, Richie Woodhall
Canoeing
Commentators: Helen Reeves, Patrick Winterton
Reporter: Matthew Pinsent
Climbing
Studio Guest: Molly Thompson-Smith
Commentators: Ed Leigh, Mike Langley
Reporter: Tim Warwood
Cycling
Studio Guest: Chris Hoy
Commentators: Chris Boardman, Simon Brotherton
Reporter: Jill Douglas
Diving
Studio Guest: Chris Mears
Commentators: Kat Downes, Leon Taylor
Equestrian
Commentators: Andy Austin, Nick Luck, Ian Stark
Football
Studio Guest: Casey Stoney
Commentators (women’s): Jonathan Pearce, Sue Smith
Commentators (men’s): Alistair Mann
Gymnastics
Studio Guest: Beth Tweddle
Commentators: Matt Baker, Craig Heap, Christine Still
Hockey
Commentators: Matt Chilton, Simon Mason, Kate Richardson-Walsh
Rowing
Studio Guest: Katherine Grainger
Commentators: Garry Herbert, James Cracknell
Reporter: Matthew Pinsent
Sailing
Commentators: Niall Myant, Shirley Robertson
Skateboarding
Commentators: Ed Leigh, Marc Churchill
Reporter: Tim Warwood
Surfing
Commentators: Ed Leigh, Ben Mondy
Swimming
Studio Guests: Rebecca Adlington, Mark Foster
Commentators: Andy Jameson, Adrian Moorhouse
Reporter: Sharron Davies
Table Tennis (selected matches)
Commentators: Nick Lester, Sam Smith, Jill Parker
Taekwondo
Studio Guest: Lutalo Muhammad
Tennis (selected matches)
Commentators: Nick Lester, Sam Smith
Triathlon
Commentators: Matt Chilton, Annie Emmerson
Other commentators/reporters
Nihal Arthanayake, Rishi Persad, Nick Hope, John Watson
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